Page 19 of Gin & Sin

“I know. We might need to think about hiring a few more folks if this keeps up. Lowen is already looking over our operating budget with Indy in the office.”

“Good. I agree, even if it’s just a couple of nights a week. We can keep costs down with our labor, but we don’t want service to suffer.”

“Right, and we still need to think about extending our dinner hours in the summer to make up for the student population dipping out.”

I nod, crossing my arms over my chest. “But Salem’s idea to get people here from the city with drink discounts could work. Back in the day, I would’ve driven thirty minutes to drink for cheap.”

“Same.” He chuckles. “I looked up menus at some of the popular bars in New Onyx. Seventeen bucks for a martini, twenty for top-shelf whiskey.” He gently smacks my arm. “Your signature drink, that Gin and Sin, even using house gin it’s fifteen to eighteen in most places.”

“Damn. How do college kids afford to drink anymore?”

“No idea, but it gives us space to play with prices.”

“On top of being queer friendly and the theme nights, it might work.”

“And drag brunch on Sundays.”

I groan. “I love the idea, but I love my lazy Sundays more. They’re all we have.”

“Once a month to start, then maybe we can rotate or something. We don’t need everyone here all the time.”

“True. I complain, but I don’t really have anything else to do but work.”

“Except for a hottie professor.”

Chuckling, I nod. “Except for that. How are things in that department for you?”

Ridley shrugs. “I’m hung up on somebody and it’s annoying as fuck. Not to be an ass, but it’s not usually too difficult for me to pull a baddie.”

“Pull a baddie? College kids rubbing off on you?”

Ridley laughs, twisting the longest part of his hair around a finger. “It keeps me young.”

“If you say so.”

He bumps his arm against mine. “Let me live in my delusion.”

Chuckling, I nod. “You bet. Is it Wren still?”

He scrunches his nose. “I’m not hiding it, huh?”

“Not even a little. Your face lights up like a kid’s in a candy store every time he’s around.”

Ridley huffs out a breath, directing his gaze to the table of five that just got up. Both of us walk that way to grab the empties and clear the table.

“I got it bad for him, but he’s in a long-term relationship.”

“I heard. Salem said it’s fizzling though.”

“I know. Patience has never been a virtue of mine, but I’m trying. I haven’t been able to really get into anyone else since I met him.”

Stacking some plates, I smile at my friend. “My take is that he likes you too. It must be complicated for him. You have the sunk cost fallacy to grapple with.”

“Sunk cost?”

“You know. You spend years with a person, so in your head, it’s an investment that you don’t want to lose, but at some point, you have to cut your losses and move on or you go broke. It relates to money and relationships.”

Ridley nods, chewing his bottom lip for a few seconds before releasing it. “I get it. Maybe that’s how Low felt?”

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